Support for outlet boxes



Dec. 16, 1947., H. SMITH SUPPORT FOR OUTLET BOXES Filed. Dec. 26, 1946 INVENTOR flflM/L m/v 671/777 ATTORNEYSE Patented Dec. 16, 1947 SUPPORT FOR OUTLET BOXES Hamilton Smith, Clifton, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Kelton Manufacturing 00., Bloomfield, N. J., a limited partnership composed of William F. Kelly, Jr., and Hamilton Smith Application December 26, 1946, Serial No. 718,341

2 Claims. (01. 24827) The present invention relates to electrical outlet boxes of the. type for receiving wall switches and receptacles of the flush type and more particularly to a support for such boxes.

In new electrical installations it is customary to mount the switch or receptacle box at the time the wiring is installed. This presents substantially no particular problem since the boxes are usually secured by suitable brackets or the like between the wall studding and many types of supporting brackets for such outlet boxes are now well known to the art. However, in finished buildings whenever it is desired to install a new switch or receptacle on a wall it has always been difficult and a time consuming task.

In the type of building construction employed for many years where wood lath and plaster were utilized the customary outlet box has been provided with adjustable plaster ears and after cutting an opening in the lath and plaster large enough to accommodate the box, "the plaster is cut above and below the box opening to enable the box to be secured in place by wood screws passing through the plaster ears into the exposed surface of the wood lath. In instances where the wall is of wood the same procedure is usually followed provided the thickness of the wood will permit, by reversing the plaster ears and counter-sinking the ears into the wood so that when in position the outer surface of the box is flush with the wall.

However, modern building construction is resorting more and more to metal lath or plaster board walls wherein the foundation comprises sheet plaster provided with spaced openings to which the finished plaster coating is keyed. When at some future time it is desired to install a switch or receptacle in a wall of this type the mechanic heretofore has been confronted with a time consuming and difficult task of attempting to secure the outlet box in place. This has been due to the fact that the customary plaster ears are difficult to fasten to a plaster, metal lath,

or tile wall, since wood screws are of no avail. Also, although many various types of supports for outlet boxes are known for new construction, there has never been on the market an efficient and positive support for an outlet box for completed construction which can be readily installed without difliculty. Moreover, such prior devices have generally consisted of separate straps or the like which necessitate attempting to fasten to the box after the latter has been positioned in the wall opening. Frequently this requires as much time as preparing the wall for the box and more often results in such straps dropping down the partition.

It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide a support which is adjustably secured to an outlet box and enables the box to be firmly secured in place in any type of finished wall.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a support for an outlet box which is adjustably secured to the latter and enables the customary cables to be secured to the box prior to positioning and fastening the latter securely in the wall.

Still further objects of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a switch or receptacle outlet box provided with the supporting brackets of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a finishedwall and showing a top or bottom plan view of the outlet box held firmly in place with the supporting brackets of the present invention,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a finished wall and showing a front view of the outlet box provided with the supporting brackets in accordance with the present invention and showing the manner in which the box is inserted in the wall opening, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a finished wall and showing the outlet box securely fastened in place by the supporting brackets of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in detail an outlet box 5 is shown of the customary design and known to the art as a gem box. Such boxes are provided with the usual adjustable plaster ears 6 held in place by set screws 1 and when desired these ears may be reversed to enable them to be secured by wood screws to the wood lath when such construction is encountered. In addition the box 5 has the customary knock-outs 8 which are removable as desired so that the conduit or cable may enter the box through the opening provided by removal of the knock-out. Also the box is shown with the usual lugs 9 to which the switch or receptacle is fastened by suitable machine screws after the box is finally installed in the wall.

By reference to the severa1 figures and more particularly to Figure 1, it will be noted that the box 5 is provided with a pair of supporting brackets ID of identical construction and of substantially L-shape which are secured to the sides of the box, one adjacent each end thereof. These brackets are formed with a channel l2 along the elongated or normally perpendicular portion of the L-shape facing the base and at struction, as will be hereinafter described. An elongated slot l5 extends longitudinally of the brackets I and a screw [6 passes through an opening in wall of the box and engages a nut ll positioned within the channel l2 of the brackets and which prevents rotation of the nut I! but, when slightly loosened, enables the brackets to be moved longitudinally, since the bolt formed by the screw [6 and nut 11 fits into the slot allowing such movement.

It will also be noted that the brackets ID are of sufficient overall length as to project well beyond the back of the box 5 when the bolt ll3ll is at the outer extremity of the slot [5. This is of exceptional significance since it enables the angular projects [3 or base of the L-shape to be inserted in the wall opening by slightly rotating the box 5, as shown in Figure 3, until such projects 13 are back of the wall regardless of its thickness, before the box is righted to a perpendicular position and before the back of the box has contacted the wall. Once the angular projects are positioned in the wall opening, the box is then turned to a perpendicular position, as shown in Figure 4, and the brackets drawn outwardly until the angular projections, and particularl the serrations l6, engage the back or inner side of the wall, as can be seen from Figure 2, regardless of whether the wall be metal lath and plaster, tile, plasterboard, or wood. The box 5 is then pushed inwardly of the wall open g with the thumbs while the mechanic holds the brackets until the box is flush with the outer wall surface when the plaster ears 6 and lugs 9 will contact the wall.

The screws it are then tightened with a screw driver and since the nuts H are prevented from turning by the channel l2, the brackets H! are firmly secured to the sides of the box 5, thus holding the latter firmly in place within the finished wall. The brackets l9 will then be projecting beyond the front surface of the wall as shown in the dotted lines of Figure 2 but after securing the box 5 firmly in position the projecting ends are broken off flush with the outer surface of the box and wall with a pair of pliers or the like.

Another significant feature possible with the brackets of the present invention and which heretofore has not been attainable is that the cables when of flexible nature, may be inserted and connected to the box 5 prior to positioning the latter in place within the wall opening. This is due to the fact that the box can be hung from the openin by the angular portions of the supporting brackets engaging the rear surface of the wall and since the box can pivot about the bolts, the box can be temporarily depended below the open ng until the cables are affixed, after which the box is raised as the cables are inserted in the opening and the box itself likewise pushed into the wall opening and secured in place as above described. Of course with the brackets H! of the present invention, the plaster ears 6 may be entirely dispensed with in the interests of manufacturing economy if desired, since the lugs 9 alone will serve as a bearing surface for the front of the box or such lugs 9 may be made somewhat larger to provide slightly more surface area without affecting manufacturing cost.

It should thus become obvious to those skilled in the art that an outlet box having supporting brackets for rigidly securing such box in an opening in a finished wall is herein provided. Moreover, since the brackets are loosely carried by the box they are inserted into the wall opening prior to positioning of the box in such opening. The box is then readily secured in place by the brackets without the possibility of the brackets falling down the partition while attempting to secure the box in place as would otherwise occur with brackets separate from the box. Also, since the brackets are of sufficient length as to permit positioning the ends thereof within the wall opening regardless of the wall construction or thickness, before the back of the box contacts the wall surface, the cables can be secured in place when desired before the box is positioned rigidly in place, all of which facilitates the rapidity with which the box can be firmly and finally installed thus materially reducing the time formerly required to install such outlet boxes.

Although one specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described it is to be understood that other modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A supporting bracket for securing an electric outlet box within an opening in a finished wall comprising a substantially L-shaped member, the normally perpendicular portion thereof being elongated and provided with a longitudinal slot to enable adjustment of said bracket relative to ie side of the outlet box and perpendicular to the wall surface prior to rigidly securing said bracket to the side of the outlet box to thus adapt said bracket to all wall thicknesses, and the base portion of said L-shaped bracket extending perpendicular to the side of the outlet box when secured thereto and adapted to engage the rear surface of the finished wall to force a portion of the outlet box in contact with the front surface of the wall and rigidly secure the box within the opening.

2. A supporting bracket for securing an electric outlet box within an opening in a finished wall comprising a substantially L-shaped member, the normally perpendicular portion thereof facing the base being elongated and having a channel for the reception of a fastener and to prevent turning of the latter, said normally perpendicular portion being also provided with a longitudinal slot to enable adjustment of said bracket relative to the side of the outlet box and to the fastener prior to rigidly securing said bracket to the side of the outlet box to thus adapt said bracket to all wall thicknesses, and the base portion of said L-shaped bracket extending perpendicular to the channel side of the elongated portion and perpendicular to the side of the outlet box when secured thereto and said base portion having serrations along its length adapted to engage the rear surface of the finished wall to force a portion of the outlet box in contact with the front surface of the wall and rigidly secure the outlet box within the opening.

HAMILTON SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 876,187 Hornsby Jan. 7, 1908 1,814,449 'Morgenstern July 14,1931 1,982,957 Knell Dec. 4, 1934 2,309,189 Hancock et al Jan. 26, 1943 

